John Frum The Reluctant Messiah

Just When You Thought It Was Safe

Back in the village everyone was packing to go. John limped over to where Ethan, Max and Jay were sharing a single, precious beer.

"Ferrum, we save the human race from alien monsters and all you've got is light beer?" whined Max. Jay shook his head.

"After what we've been through this is about the best beer I've ever had! So how long have you known about...all this? What's th-" 

John cut him off ."It's a long, long story. Certainly, one that needs more than one beer to tell."

"Sorry about your dad dude, er, uncle. We just heard," said Ethan, "but how does somebody turn like that? Helping the very people that want to exterminate you? It doesn't make sense, there's no excuse on God's green earth for that."

John thought for a moment. "You're right. There is no excuse but there's always a reason. And for an especially long time I'm gonna have to try and figure that out. I think that some people just want to matter. They want to be important so badly that they'll do just about anything."

"Ok, but why you? Why are they after you?" asked Max.

"Because he's the only one that can stop them," interrupted Aiden as he walked by. "The only one that can prevent them from carrying out their plan. Do you know why he's the only one? Hmm?" He paused for dramatic effect. "Because he's the only one who doesn't know he can't." Aiden's eyes narrowed, his head nodding, reading each of them to see if his profundity had landed correctly. It hadn't. "Well, anyway I promised you boys I'd show you the wonders of Koontal firsthand. What better way to do that than partaking of a bit of Kava with the rest of the village?  Went to visit Miss Edna and wouldn't ya' know she provided all the right stuff God rest her soul," he crossed himself and shot a knowing look at John. "My own special brew- they're mixing it up as we speak."

Professor Wharton and John's eyes met. Professor Wharton began to move towards John but was abruptly stopped by John's upheld hand."Don't." he mouthed and turned his back towards him.

"You're John's father," Em stated rather matter of factly. Professor Wharton smiled sheepishly, nodding his head affirmatively. "All this time..." Em continued. "I'm sorry, I never knew, you never said-"

"I... had to protect him...from them. All the while hiding from them myself." He paused, carefully choosing his words. It was a story that he hadn't been able to tell for such a long, long time. "Charles Wharton disappeared one night in the jungle. No one knew why. He was my friend. My very good friend.  I searched all night. I walked out of the jungle the next morning exhausted and some very bad men called me by his name...held me by my throat, wanting to know where John Ferrum was. They spent years...searching...for me. Hell, I even helped them search. As soon as I could, I left to go back and look after John. Been doing that ever since...in the only way I knew how. The only way I could and still keep him safe. Do you know how hard it's been just watching him, not being able to reach out and... now, this..."

"We'll both eventually find our way into his heart." Em said.

"I have a sneaking suspicion you've already beaten me to it. Put a good word in for me, will you?"

Em coyly smiled, leaned in, and whispered, "Not sure I'll need to." She looked over his shoulder. John had been standing behind them, listening. The professor turned and smiled. John was the first to offer, his arms opened. He and his dad embraced; the professors' eyes closed.

"You're staying?" John asked. 

The professor paused and nodded."Yeah. Kinda' belong here. They need me and..." an even longer pause, "Maybe I need them more."

"That doesn't leave me much of a choice now does it?" said John. "I mean...you'll probably need some help."They both stood grinning at each other. Aiden sauntered over.

"Before we raise a pint in victory you might want to have a look-see at this." Aiden reached inside his flight jacket and produced an old, torn parchment. There were symbols in faded ink written across it that weren't readily identifiable.

"Where'd you get this?" asked the professor.

"Paid a visit to Fletcher Howard's campsite on the way here. Didn't think he'd mind if I borrowed a few things. And if my Miss Em is as smart as she says she is..."Em shot him a look and grabbed the leathery parchment from him. She walked to the window to get more sunlight on it. She studied it in silence then turned back to them. Her face grimaced.

"What?" Aiden queried.

"Theoretically this was supposed to have come out of the satchel we snagged in DC at the Smith, right?" she asked. "But we only got half of it. So, this is..."

"The very one."

 "It's the missing half, right?"

"It is."

"That's good, right? What does it say?"

She stood there just looking at the ground as if searching for the words.

"Em?" Professor Wharton tried to encourage her out of her trance.

"Buckle up." she said, still staring at the ground.

"Buckle up? That's what the document says, buckle up?" John asked. "What does that even mean?"

Em took a deep breath and sighed."All... that?" she said pointing in the direction of the decimated field they just came from. "That was the hors d'oeuvres, the trailer to the movie, it was the-"

"Wait! All that?! All that was-"

"The rehearsal. A dress rehearsal for the big show, the main event."  

THE END